iCantCU Podcast

In episode 299 of iCantCU, I give the Rokid Style smart glasses one more chance after a string of frustrating failures with voice commands, recording, and general reliability. With some strange iPhone issues possibly contributing to the problems, I'm heading to the Genius Bar before leaving for Austin and the National Federation of the Blind National Convention. I also talk about the word "blind"...

In episode 298 of iCantCU, I share a personal update on Ziggy's ongoing lymphoma treatments and the unexpected emergency caused by a corn cob that may require surgery. It's been an emotional and stressful few days, and I wanted to bring everyone up to speed. I also take a deep dive into the Rokid Style smart glasses after using them during a trip to Baltimore. From navigation and video recording t...

In this deeply personal episode, I share why it's been a little while since the last show, including the passing of one of my closest lifelong friends, Ken Stock. I talk about friendship, grief, and how loss changes perspective. I also give an honest update on Ziggy's lymphoma treatment, the emotional toll it's taking, and how life has a way of piling challenges on all at once. Then I dive into my...

Episode 296 of iCantCU, I break down the Rokid Style Smart Glasses, compare them to my Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, and explain why I made the difficult decision to cancel a long-planned YouTube workshop in Las Vegas. On the tech side, I dig into the Rokid Style specs—38.5 grams, 10-minute recording limits, multiple aspect ratios, 12-hour battery claims, and AI integrations including Google Maps an...

In this episode of I Can't See You, I break down how the Ray-Ban Meta glasses became a real travel tool—from PHL to Podfest in Orlando. I used "Hey Meta, what's in front of me?" to read signs, confirm gates, navigate MCO, and find my way around the Renaissance at SeaWorld and the conference sessions. Along the way, I share a funny airport moment when people thought I was talking to them, plus the...

In episode 294 of iCantCU , I kick off 2026 by connecting a few things that don't seem related at first: Chinese food on Christmas, audio description on TV and movies, and what happens when accessibility goes mainstream. I share what the holidays look like in our house—with Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year's, and both kids' birthdays packed into a few short weeks—along with stories about a cloth meno...

  In episode 293 of iCantCU , I take you along for a cold—but memorable—day trip to New York City with Jane, where holiday chaos, quality time, and cutting-edge tech collide. The highlight was our visit to Meta Labs , where I spent hands-on time testing the new Ray-Ban Meta Display Smart Glasses to see what they might offer the blind community. I walk through what worked, what didn't, and why the...

In this episode, I catch you up on everything that's been keeping me busy around the NFB of Pennsylvania. As convention chair for our 2025 convention in Harrisburg, I walk through how the weekend went—sponsors, auction totals, banquet fundraising, Family Feud night with Amazon gift cards and consolation candy bars, and the great support we got from the Best Western Premier staff. I talk about how...

October was nonstop. I was in Hershey, Pittsburgh, and New York twice, and on every single trip, there was a transportation curveball. SEPTA canceled trains, Amtrak was late, ride shares were pricey or didn't show, and I even had to cross a four-lane road in Pittsburgh with no traffic light. I still made it to Dancing in the Dark, the PATTAN Tech Adventures event, the Blind Travel Foundation fundr...

In this episode of iCantCU , I catch you up on where I've been and dive into some pretty unbelievable questions I was asked by a healthcare professional—like how I get dressed, not what I wear, but literally how I put on clothes. It's troubling when educated people in healthcare still hold such misconceptions about blindness, and it reminded me of battles NFB members continue to face, including pa...

In this episode of iCantCU, I'm finally back after a month and diving into the Ally Solos—new smart glasses from Envision designed specifically for blind and low-vision users. Unlike Ray-Ban or Oakley Metas, these aren't built for social media first. They won't shoot video at launch, but they'll capture photos and focus on accessibility features that actually matter to us. The presale had me tempt...

In this episode of iCantCU , I talk about the new Oakley Meta smartglasses and why, despite the hype, I'm holding off for now. The camera's not centered like I'd hoped, and they still only shoot vertical video—great if you're all-in on Instagram, not so much for YouTube. The recording time is a win, though: 30 minutes vs. just three on the Ray-Bans. But if the Oakleys don't wrap around like my sta...

In this episode of iCantCU, I'm trying something completely different—an audio-only format recorded while walking laps around my house. I talk about the frustration of unreliable audio description devices at theaters and why it's such a barrier for blind patrons like me. I also share how my recent Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses videos on YouTube outperformed anything I've done before and preview an up...

In this episode of iCantCU , I discuss two major audio description failures—one that's on me, and one that's simply unacceptable. The first happened when I was at the NFB National Center in Baltimore for the IEP Advocacy Academy. I shot a Federation Focus video to show what it's like there, but I totally missed the mark on describing some of the visuals. Thanks to Auphonic's amazing processing, it...

In this episode, I recap my trip to Las Vegas for the NFB of Nevada State Convention—part learning, part getaway with Liz. As chair of the upcoming Pennsylvania convention, I wanted to see how other states run theirs. Nevada's was short but packed, and I took notes, especially on their use of breakout tracks and Family Feud. Liz and I also hit In-N-Out Burger twice and even saw Michael Symon at hi...

In episode 284 of iCantCU , I talk about another hiccup with my psoriatic arthritis meds—this time, the pharmacy wanted over two grand out of pocket. Spoiler: I said no. Taltz has helped a bit, but not $2,000-a-month helpful. So now I'm back on the hunt for something else that won't break the bank or mess me up with scary side effects. I also share some sad news: we lost Stan Ingram, a fellow blin...

In this episode of iCantCU , I talk about my recent trip to Baltimore for a National Federation of the Blind leadership seminar. The travel down was rough—high winds, delayed trains, and a soaked suitcase—but once I got there, it was an incredible few days. I met fantastic people from all over the country, learned a ton, and left feeling inspired (and maybe a little intimidated) by how sharp some...

In this episode of iCantCU , I share a jaw-dropping moment when the director of a Pennsylvania state agency called me a four-letter word. Yes, really. It all ties back to my ongoing fight for transparency and inclusion in the Business Enterprise Program (BEP), which provides blind entrepreneurs with opportunities to run vending and food service businesses on government properties. Despite promises...

In this episode of iCantCU , I recount my journey to Washington, D.C., for the annual National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Washington Seminar . I share insights into the event's purpose—advocating for policies that support blind Americans—and my meetings with congressional representatives and senators. I detail the structured meetings, including conversations with Senator McCormack and staff fro...

In episode 280 of iCantCU , I share my experience traveling to New York City for Jane's apartment settlement. I reflect on navigating the subway, offering reassurance to those hesitant about using public transportation. Drawing from my father's advice—"Be careful, but don't be afraid"—I encourage everyone to embrace new challenges, whether in travel or life. I also detail my visit to Jane's studio...

I highlight the incredible support I received from volunteers and attendees, including a helpful staffer named Hunter, whose mother, Wendy, played a key role in pre-event planning. I describe my challenges in the exhibit hall due to noise and crowd density, my enjoyment of the sessions, and memorable networking encounters, including a conversation about podcasting with AI and public speaking oppor...

In episode 278 of iCantCU, I start off with some good news from the fantasy football world. Out of the three leagues I played in this year, I won two championships, including the NFB Students fundraising league with my team Ziggy FC. Yahoo's fantasy sports app, while not perfect, is a standout example of accessibility done right. Unfortunately, not every organization gets accessibility right. I al...

In this packed episode of iCantCU , I dive into holiday highlights, culinary adventures, and upcoming plans. First, I share my experience attending a French macaron-making class with Liz and Jane at Sur La Table. While the process was visually intensive, the instructor, Elliot, made it incredibly tactile and inclusive for me, which was both surprising and heartwarming. Though I'll never make macar...

In this episode of iCantCU , I share my experience traveling to Harrisburg for the Blind Merchants Holiday Party and fundraiser, reflecting on the challenges of navigating public transportation as a person with very limited sight. Timing was a major hurdle, from the unpredictable delays with CCT to coordinating a group of 17 people on an Amtrak train. I discuss how small inefficiencies can snowbal...

In this episode of iCantCU , I share highlights from the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania's state convention in Erie and reflect on the experience of turning 60. The journey to Erie was an adventure in itself, with a nine-hour bus ride filled with trivia games, camaraderie, and the occasional logistical hiccup.   Once there, I was happy helping others find their way around the venu...